On The Fly: Top stock stories for WednesdayStocks began the session in positive territory but soon turned mixed as the tech heavy Nasdaq was unable to hold its gains. The Federal Reserve's statement that accompanied its rate decision was little changed from its last meeting, keeping investors optimistic about a possible delay in its first interest rate hike in many years. ECONOMIC EVENTS: In the U.S., the Federal Reserve concluded a two-day meeting on monetary policy and kept benchmark interest rates unchanged between 0% and 0.25%, as expected. The Fed said information received since the last time the FOMC met indicates that economic activity has been expanding "moderately" in recent months, noting that the labor market continued to improve, with "solid job gains and declining unemployment." The central bank repeated that even after employment and inflation near "mandate-consistent levels," economic conditions may warrant keeping the target federal funds rate below "normal" levels. An index of pending home sales fell 1.8% in June, versus expectations for it to have risen 1% compared to the prior month. In China, the Shanghai composite index rose 3.4%, stemming its most recent stretch of declines, though the index is still deeply in the red on a week-to-date basis. COMPANY NEWS: Shares of Twitter (TWTR) fell $5.30, or 14.5%, to $31.24 after the company reported better than expected quarterly results but its management tempered expectations about its user growth. Several analysts cut their price targets on the stock and warned its shares may be range bound in the near-term, but maintained their buy ratings on the stock based on the social network operator's long-term potential. Analysts were not as ready to jump to the defense of another Internet stock, Yelp (YELP), which plunged $8.40, or 25.07%, to $25.11 after the local business review site operator reported lower than expected profit and lowered its fiscal year revenue guidance. At least eight research firms downgraded the stock after the company's outlook missed expectations and it announced the exit of brand advertising... Two defense contractors, Northrop Grumman (NOC) and General Dynamics (GD), advanced after each topped expectations with their quarterly reports and raised their fiscal year outlooks. General Dynamics shares gained 3.93% to $149.96 following its "beat and raise" report, while Northrop jumped 6.18% to $173.44. MAJOR MOVERS: Among the notable gainers was Cytec Industries (CYT), which gained 27.04% to $74.19 after agreeing to be acquired by Brussels-based Solvay (SVYZY) for $75.25 per share in cash, corresponding to an enterprise value of $6.4B. Among the noteworthy losers was Tableau Software (DATA), which fell $13.58, or 10.67%, to $113.64 after its earnings report. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White attributed today's pullback in shares to "very high" expectations going into the quarter, while Wedbush said Tableau's Q2 deceleration was due to difficulty in sustaining its "extraordinarily high" growth rate. Also lower were shares of Medivation (MDVN), which fell $8.77, or 8.39%, to $95.74 after Cowen analyst Eric Schmidt said prescription trends for the company's prostate cancer drug Xtandi have "slowed considerably." Schmidt, who thinks consensus expectations calling for Xtandi sales topping $3B in sales by 2019 are "far too high," recommended selling the shares and lowered his price target on the stock to $77. INDEXES: The Dow rose 121.12, or 0.69%, to 17,751.39, the Nasdaq gained 22.53, or 0.44%, to 5,111.73, and the S&P 500 advanced 15.32, or 0.73%, to 2,108.57.

On The Fly: Top stock stories at middayStocks on Wall Street overcame a tentative start and are higher at midday ahead of the statement from the Federal Reserve following its latest monetary policy meeting. The pending home sales report showed an unexpected decline from the prior month, reminding investors the economy still isn't seeing the most robust of recoveries. ECONOMIC EVENTS: In the U.S., an index of pending home sales fell 1.8% in June, versus expectations for it to have risen 1% compared to the prior month. The Federal Reserve concludes a meeting on monetary policy today and its post-meeting statement is scheduled to be released at 2 pm EDT. The central bank is not expected to raise rates at this meeting and no post-meeting press conference is scheduled for Fed Chair Janet Yellen. In China, the Shanghai composite index rose 3.4%, stemming its most recent stretch of declines, though the index is still deeply in the red on a week-to-date basis. COMPANY NEWS: Shares of Twitter (TWTR) fell 13% after the company reported better than expected quarterly results but its management tempered expectations about its user growth. Several analysts cut their price targets on the stock and warned its shares may be range bound in the near-term, but maintained their buy ratings on the stock based on the social network operator's long-term potential. MAJOR MOVERS: Among the notable gainers following their earnings reports were hepatitis C drug maker Gilead (GILD), which rose 3%, and two defense contractors who raised their outlooks: Northrop Grumman (NOC), which advanced 7%, and General Dynamics (GD), which gained nearly 5%. Also higher was Citrix Systems (CTXS), which jumped about 10% after issuing better than expected fiscal year earnings guidance, reporting its CEO Mark Templeton plans to retire and entering into a cooperation agreement with activist investor Elliott Management, which owns approximately 7.5% of the company’s common stock. Among the noteworthy losers was Yelp (YELP), which tumbled 28% and hit a multi-year low after the local business review site operator reported lower than expected profit and lowered its fiscal year revenue guidance. Also lower following their earnings reports were Akamai (AKAM), which fell 5%, and Level 3 Communications (LVLT), which dropped 6%. INDEXES: Near midday, the Dow was up 94.46, or 0.54%, to 17,724.73, the Nasdaq was up 6.72, or 0.13%, to 5,095.92, and the S&P 500 was up 9.02, or 0.43%, to 2,102.27.